Systems and methods for processing a distorted image

ABSTRACT

In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the disclosure, an image processing system is configured to use a distance authentication template to execute a detection procedure that detects at least one non-linear distortion in a subject image. The distance authentication template can be generated by mapping a set of spatial coordinates of three features in a distortion-free image to a set of pixel coordinates of the three features in the distortion-free image. Addressing a non-linear distortion in the subject image can include performing remedial actions to remedy the non-linear distortion, or taking into consideration the non-linear distortion when using the distance authentication template to identify one or more features in the subject image.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to image processing and more particularly relates to systems and methods for processing images having distortions.

BACKGROUND

Image processing systems are employed in a wide variety of situations such as for reading a barcode, identifying a dollar value written on a check, recognizing a person in a photograph, or executing an optical character recognition (OCR) procedure upon a page of text. Many of these image processing systems can be quite effective when the medium on which an image is imprinted is free of distortion. For example, a check reader can readily recognize the monetary value entered in a check when the check is free of wrinkles and is aligned correctly when inserted into an automated teller machine. However, in some cases, the medium can have distortions that render the task of an image processing system difficult. For example, an OCR application may incorrectly interpret text provided on a page (or a piece of cloth) that is skewed and/or contains wrinkles. A skewed page constitutes what can be termed a linear distortion, and some OCR systems can accommodate this form of linear distortion by using a linear transformation procedure that takes into account a linear, spatial displacement of various features in the skewed page. However, procedures used to process images having linear distortions are typically computationally laborious, expensive, and slow. Procedures used for processing images having non-linear distortions (such as those associated with a page having wrinkles) can be even more computationally laborious, expensive, slow, and ineffective as well.

It is therefore desirable to address and improve upon procedures associated with processing images having various types of linear and non-linear distortions.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present disclosure embraces a method that can include providing at least one of a first object or an image of the first object and using the at least one of the first object or the image of the first object to define a triangular spatial template having vertices corresponding to a first feature located at a first spatial coordinate, a second feature located at a second spatial coordinate, and a third feature located at a third spatial coordinate. When provided only the first object, the method can include generating the image of the first object; identifying in the image of the first object, a first pixel coordinate corresponding to the first spatial coordinate, a second pixel coordinate corresponding to the second spatial coordinate, and a third pixel coordinate corresponding to the third spatial coordinate; defining a triangular pixel template having vertices corresponding to the first pixel coordinate, the second pixel coordinate, and the third pixel coordinate; and generating a distance authentication template by mapping the triangular pixel template to the triangular spatial template. The method can further include providing at least one of a second object or an image of the second object; and using the distance authentication template to identify one or more additional features in the at least one of the second object or the image of the second object, the at least one of the second object or the image of the second object comprising the first feature, the second feature, and the third feature.

In another aspect, the present disclosure pertains to a method that can include using a set of spatial coordinates to define the locations of two or more features in a distortion-free image; using a set of pixel coordinates to define the locations of the two or more features in the distortion-free image; using the set of spatial coordinates and the set of pixel coordinates to generate a distance authentication template; and using the distance authentication template to detect at least one distortion in a subject image having the two or more features.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure pertains to an apparatus that can include an image acquisition system and an image processing system. The image acquisition system is configured to generate a subject image and the image processing system is configured to use a distance authentication template to execute a detection procedure that detects at least one non-linear distortion in the subject image, the distance authentication template comprising a mapping of a set of spatial coordinates of at least three features in a distortion-free image to a set of pixel coordinates of the at least three features in the distortion-free image.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplary objectives and/or advantages described in this disclosure, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, are further explained within the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a device that includes components such as an image acquisition system and an image processing system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 schematically depicts a distortion-free currency note that is one example of an object that can be imaged and processed by the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 schematically depicts a currency note having distortions that can be taken into account by the device shown in FIG. 1 when processing an image of the currency note in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 schematically depicts a quilt pattern formed of a number of triangular templates superimposed on an image of the distortion-free currency note in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 schematically depicts the quilt pattern superimposed upon an image of the currency note having distortions in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 schematically depicts a distortion-free barcode image that is another example image that can be processed by the device shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 schematically depicts a distortion-free QR-code image that is yet another example image that can be processed by the device shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure

FIG. 8 schematically depicts an exemplary computing element that can be used to implement an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Throughout this description, embodiments and variations are described for the purpose of illustrating uses and implementations of inventive concepts. The illustrative description should be understood as presenting examples of inventive concepts, rather than as limiting the scope of the concepts as disclosed herein. Towards this end, certain words and terms are used herein solely for convenience and such words and terms should be broadly understood as encompassing various objects and actions that are generally understood in various forms and equivalencies by persons of ordinary skill in the art. It should also be understood that the word “example” as used herein is intended to be non-exclusionary and non-limiting in nature. More particularly, the word “exemplary” as used herein indicates one among several examples and it should be understood that no special emphasis, exclusivity, or preference, is associated or implied by the use of this word.

The present disclosure is generally directed to processing images having one or more distortions. In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the disclosure, an image processing system is configured to use a distance authentication template to execute a detection procedure that detects at least one non-linear distortion in a subject image. The distance authentication template can be generated by mapping a set of spatial coordinates of three features in a distortion-free image to a set of pixel coordinates of the three features in the distortion-free image. Addressing a non-linear distortion in the subject image can include performing remedial actions to remedy the non-linear distortion, or taking into consideration the non-linear distortion when using the distance authentication template to identify one or more features in the subject image.

Attention is now drawn to FIG. 1 which schematically depicts a device 100 that includes components such as an image acquisition system 105 and an image processing system 110 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The device 100 can be any one of many different devices such as a barcode scanner, a document scanner, a printer, a camera, a smartphone, a currency reader, a currency dispenser, or an automated teller machine (ATM). The device 100 can accordingly include several other components in addition to those indicated in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1. It must be understood that in some exemplary devices, the image acquisition system 105 can be implemented in the form of an image generation system that generates an image (a printer, for example) while in some other exemplary devices, the image acquisition system 105 can be implemented in the form of an image capture system (a camera, for example) that captures an image of an object 125. When the image acquisition system 105 is a printer, the image can be generated by using imaging data (an image file, for example) that can be provided via a communications interface 115 which communicatively couples the device 100 to a network such as the Internet, and/or can be provided via a storage medium such as a USB memory stick. When the image acquisition system 105 is a scanner, the image can be acquired by scanning the object 125, which can be a sheet of paper, for example.

Irrespective of the manner in which an image is acquired, the image processing system 110 is configured in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure to process the image in a wide variety of applications. In one example application, the image processing system 110 can be used to carry out an optical character recognition (OCR) procedure upon the image. In another example application, the image processing system 110 can be used to edit the image (edit a photograph, for example) and/or to decode the image (identifying some numerical entries in a check, for example). In yet another example application, the image processing system 110 can be used to read a barcode.

More particularly, in accordance with the disclosure, the image processing system 110 is configured to detect one or more distortions, linear as well as non-linear, in an image and to address these distortions when detecting one or more features in the image. Addressing the distortions can include taking into consideration the distortions when processing the image, and/or can include performing remedial actions to remedy one or more distortions. Towards this end, in some applications, the device 100 can be configured to automatically address certain types of distortions detected by the image processing system 110. For example, when the device 100 is a printer, certain printing characteristics such as print speed and contrast settings can be automatically modified based on certain types of distortions detected by the image processing system 110. In some other cases, one or more distortions detected by the image processing system 110 can be remedied manually by a human operator who can perform actions such as adjusting a paper feed or rectifying a paper jam in the printer. In some other cases, a human operator can use a man-machine interface 120, which can be a graphical user interface (GUI), to manually rectify or address one or more distortions.

Attention is next drawn to FIG. 2, which schematically depicts a distortion-free currency note 200 that is one example of the object 125 shown in FIG. 1. In other embodiments, the object 125 can be a monetary instrument, a citizenship document, a legal document, or a form of identification (ID) for example. An image of the distortion-free currency note 200 can be acquired by the image acquisition system 105 and the image provided to the image processing system 110. It must be understood that in some exemplary embodiments, an image of the distortion-free currency note 200 can be provided to the image processing system 110 such as in the form of an image file or in the form of imaging data, without using the image acquisition system 105 to acquire an image of the distortion-free currency note 200.

In accordance with the disclosure, the image processing system 110 executes an image processing procedure upon an image of the distortion-free currency note 200 in order to generate one or more reference templates. In this exemplary embodiment, the reference template is a triangular template 205 having vertices at three spatial locations on the distortion-free currency note 200. The three spatial locations, which can be specified by various entities such as a manufacturer, a designer, or a vendor, can correspond to three identifiable features in either the distortion-free currency note 200 itself or in an image of the distortion-free currency note 200.

In a first exemplary implementation, one or more of the three identifiable features can be a generic feature such as a corner of the currency note 200, while in a second exemplary implementation, one or more of the three identifiable features can be a distinctive feature such as an alphabet, a numeral, or an alphanumeric character of the currency note 200. In a third exemplary implementation, at least two of the three identifiable features constitute distinctive features that can be used by the image processing system 110 to accurately identify another currency note having the same two or more distinctive features as the distortion-free currency note 200. Accordingly, when the distortion-free currency note 200 is a five-dollar currency note, certain distinctive features in an image of the distortion-free five-dollar currency note can be used by the image processing system 110 to accurately identify other five-dollar currency notes that may or may not contain distortions.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a first vertex 210 of the triangular template 205 is selected on the basis of a generic feature of the distortion-free currency note 200 (a top-left corner), a second vertex 215 of the triangular template 205 is selected on the basis of a distinctive feature of the distortion-free currency note 200 (a top portion of a numeral “5” that is located near the top-left corner of the distortion-free currency note 200), and a third vertex 220 is selected on the basis of another distinctive feature of the distortion-free currency note 200 (a top portion of a numeral “5” that is located near the bottom-left corner of the distortion-free currency note 200).

In other embodiment, other features can be selected for purposes of defining a triangular template. These features can be selected on the basis of various factors such as on the basis of some unique characteristics that render the three vertices readily recognizable by the image processing system 110. For example, when the distortion-free currency note 200 is imaged upon a black background, the distinctly recognizable intensity transition from black to white (along both the x-axis and the y-axis) renders each corner of the distortion-free currency note 200 readily detectable by the image processing system 110. Similarly, a grayscale transition between a white region of the numeral “5” and the surrounding gray region renders each of the second and third features readily detectable by the image processing system 110.

Location information corresponding to the various features in the distortion-free currency note 200 can be specified using spatial coordinates as well as pixel coordinates. The spatial coordinates correspond to physical size parameters of the distortion-free currency note 200 while the pixel coordinates correspond to image size parameters that can be based on pixel count in an image of the distortion-free currency note 200.

In one example implementation in accordance with the disclosure, the top-left corner of the distortion-free currency note 200 can be designated by a first set of two-dimensional (2D) spatial coordinates (0, 0) that can be considered a zero-reference point in 2D x-y coordinate space; the top-right corner of the distortion-free currency note 200 can be designated by a second set of 2D spatial coordinates (1000, 0); the bottom-left corner of the distortion-free currency note 200 can be designated by a third set of 2D spatial coordinates as (0, 1000); and the bottom-right corner of the distortion-free currency note 200 can be designated by a fourth set of 2D spatial coordinates (1000, 1000).

Using this spatial coordinates system, the first vertex 210 of the exemplary triangular template 205 can be designated as corresponding to 2D spatial coordinates (0, 0); the second vertex 215 of the triangular template 205 can be designated as corresponding to 2D spatial coordinates (90, 70); and the third vertex 220 of the triangular template 205 can be designated as corresponding to 2D spatial coordinates (90, 700).

Each spatial coordinate of the distortion-free currency note 200 has an equivalent pixel coordinate in the image of the distortion-free currency note 200. For example, an image of the distortion-free currency note 200 as generated by the image acquisition system 105 (a scanner, for example) can have a first set of pixel coordinates (200, 40) corresponding to the first vertex 210 of the triangular template 205; a second set of pixel coordinates (320, 70) corresponding to the second vertex 215 of the triangular template 205; and a third set of pixel coordinates (330, 250) corresponding to the third vertex 220 of the triangular template 205.

When characterized by using the first, second, and third set of spatial coordinates, the triangular template 205 can be considered a triangular spatial template. On the other hand, when characterized by using the first, second, and third set of pixel coordinates, the triangular template 205 can be considered a triangular pixel template. A mapping of the triangular spatial template to the triangular pixel template constitutes a distance authentication template in accordance with the disclosure. The mapping includes a mapping of the spatial coordinates of the first vertex 210 (0, 0) to the pixel coordinates (200, 40); a mapping of the spatial coordinates of the second vertex 215 (90, 70) to the pixel coordinates (320, 70); and a mapping of the spatial coordinates of the third vertex 215 (90, 700) to the pixel coordinates (330, 250). Any location inside the triangular template 205 can be distinctly defined (in spatial coordinates format or in pixel coordinates format) by using the distance authentication template generated by mapping the spatial coordinates of the three vertices to the pixel coordinates of the three vertices.

The generation of the distance authentication template can be considered as the generation of a piece-wise linear grid that provides an approximate representation of a non-linear grid, the non-linear grid useable for detecting one or more non-linear distortions in one or more other objects similar to the object 125 (for example, another currency note having the same two or more distinctive features as the distortion-free currency note 200).

It must be understood that three-dimensional (3D) spatial coordinates and 3D pixel coordinates can be used when the object 125 is a 3D object rather than a 2D object such as the distortion-free currency note 200. The distance authentication template will correspondingly be a 3D distance authentication template. In one example application, the device 100 can be a 3D printer that generates a replica of an original 3D object. Accordingly, the original 3D object can be used to generate a distance authentication template based on a combination of spatial data obtained from the original 3D object and pixel data obtained from a distortion-free replica of the 3D object (that can be generated by the 3D printer).

FIG. 3 schematically depicts a currency note 300 (object 125) having distortions that can be taken into account by the device 100 when processing an image of the currency note 300 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. More particularly, the currency note 300, which can be referred to herein as a subject image, has multiple non-linear distortions. Such non-linear distortions can be introduced into the currency note 300 after the currency note 300 is subjected to normal wear and tear over a period of time. Various forms of non-linear distortion can also be introduced during the process of capturing an image of the currency note 300. Such distortions can be introduced into the image when for example one edge of a currency note is located closer to the camera than an opposing edge during image capture, an edge is skewed with respect to one or more other edges of the currency note during image capture, and/or when a bottom edge of the currency note is angularly displaced with respect to either the x-axis or the y-axis during image capture.

Distortions in images of 3D objects can be characterized by various orientations with respect to not just the x-axis and the y-axis, but with respect to the z-axis as well. Such distortions can be broadly categorized as pitch-related distortions, roll-related distortions, and/or yaw-related distortions.

Device 100 can process an image of the currency note 300 in order to determine the locations of each of the top-left corner of the currency note 300, the top portion of a numeral “5” that is located near the top-left corner of the currency note 300, and the top portion of a numeral “5” that is located near the bottom-left corner of the currency note 300. In this exemplary embodiment, due to the distortions present in the currency note 300, the top portion of the numeral “5” near the top-left corner of the currency note 300 is located at pixel coordinates (150, 20); and the top portion of a numeral “5” near the bottom-left corner of the currency note 300 is located at pixel coordinates (1400, 1250).

A triangular pattern 305 that is shown in dashed line format indicates the pixel positions of the three vertices corresponding to top-left corner of the currency note 300, the top portion of the numeral “5” located near the top-left corner of the currency note 300, and the top portion of the numeral “5” located near the bottom-left corner of the currency note 300. The triangular pattern 305 is offset with respect to the triangular template 205 generated by using the distortion-free currency note 200, because the triangular template 205 has a first vertex at pixel coordinates (200, 40); a second vertex at pixel coordinates (320, 70); and a third vertex at pixel coordinates (330, 250).

The offset values between the triangular pattern 305 associated with the currency note 300 having distortions and the triangular template 205 derived from the distortion-free currency note 200 is indicative of certain characteristics of the distortions that are present in the currency note 300 and can be used to detect various image elements associated with various features in the currency note 300. More particularly, a difference in pixel separation distance between the first vertex 210 and the second vertex 215 in the triangular template 205 can be compared to a pixel separation distance between the first vertex 310 and the second vertex 315 in the triangular pattern 305 to identify a first characteristic of the distortions present in the currency note 300. A difference in pixel separation distance between the second vertex 215 and the third vertex 220 in the triangular template 205 can be compared to a pixel separation distance between the second vertex 315 and the third vertex 320 in the triangular pattern 305 to identify a second characteristic of the distortions present in the currency note 300. A difference in pixel separation distance between the third vertex 220 and the first vertex 210 in the triangular template 205 can be compared to a pixel separation distance between the third vertex 320 and the first vertex 310 in the triangular pattern 305 to identify a third characteristic of the distortions present in the currency note 300.

The first, second, and third characteristics of the distortions present in the currency note 300 can then be taken into consideration by the image processing system 110 for locating and identifying other features such as for example, an alphabet “F” in the word “FIVE” on the currency note 300. One example procedure for identifying these other features this will now be described using FIG. 4, which schematically depicts a quilt pattern formed of a number of triangular templates superimposed upon the distortion-free currency note 200 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Each of the triangular templates can be defined using various identifiable features in the distortion-free currency note 200 as described above with respect to the triangular template 205.

Attention is drawn to template triangle 410, which includes a first vertex that coincides with a right corner of President Lincoln's right eye, a second vertex that coincides with a top-left corner of a logo, and a third vertex that coincides with a top-right corner of the distortion-free currency note 200. The three vertices can be used to locate and identify various distinctive features in the distortion-free currency note 200 such as President Lincoln's left eye that is located inside the template triangle 410.

However, non-linear distortions and/or linear distortions that may be present in a currency note can lead to a dislocation of one or more of such distinctive features. This aspect will now be described using FIG. 5, which depicts the currency note 300 having non-linear distortions. One or more of these non-linear distortions can result in President Lincoln's left eye being shifted in position from inside the template triangle 410 to an adjacent template triangle 405. When processing the image of the currency note 300, the image processing system 110 uses the quilt pattern (formed by using the distortion-free currency note 200) to detect that the first vertex that coincided with the right corner of President Lincoln's right eye in the quilt pattern now has a positional offset. The extent of the offset in the first vertex (as well as in one or both of the other two vertices) can be gauged by the image processing system 110 in order to estimate distance compensation parameters and/or calculation parameters. The compensatory distance parameters can then be used by the image processing system 110 to conclude that President Lincoln's left eye has shifted downwards in a specific direction and over a specific distance. The direction and distance information can then be used by the image processing system 110 to detect and locate President Lincoln's left eye inside template triangle 405.

FIG. 6 schematically depicts a distortion-free barcode image 600 that can be processed by the device 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. One or more template triangles can be defined using various features in the distortion-free barcode image 600. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a template triangle 605 having three vertices corresponding to three corners of a perimeter of the distortion-free barcode image 600 can be used by the image processing system 110 to read another barcode image having one or more non-linear distortions. It must be understood that although all barcode images have size parameters that place the three vertices at identically identifiable spatial locations, the information contained inside each barcode can vary from one barcode to another.

Information inside a barcode image is typically represented in the form of a set of vertical lines having various line thickness and line spacing. Consequently, in many cases, a horizontal scan of a barcode image can provide adequate information for reading information contained in the barcode image. This characteristic feature of a barcode image can be exploited in accordance with an alternative embodiment in accordance with the disclosure to define a dual-node distance authentication template that provides a mapping between a two-node horizontal spatial template and a two-node horizontal pixel template in accordance with the disclosure.

The dual-node distance authentication template can be defined for example by using a pair of horizontally-located corners of the barcode image 600 (such as a top-left corner and a top-right corner of the barcode image 600, or a bottom-left corner and a bottom-right corner of the barcode image 600). Such a dual-node distance authentication template can be used by the image processing system 110 in at least some applications in lieu of the distance authentication template defined on the basis of triangles.

FIG. 7 schematically depicts a distortion-free QR-code image 700 that can be processed by the device 100 in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. As is typical of such QR-code images, the distortion-free QR-code image 700 has a square profile. A triangular template 705 that constitutes a distance authentication template can be defined using various features in the distortion-free barcode image 600. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7, three of the four finder patterns located at the four corners of a perimeter of the distortion-free QR-code image 700 can be used. The three finder patterns include a first finder pattern 705, a second finder pattern 710, and a third finder pattern 715. In accordance with various industry standards, a spatial separation distance between the first finder pattern 705 and the second finder pattern 710 can be specified in the form of a certain number of QR modules, where a QR module is an image element having a predefined pixel-based size and a square geometry. In other example implementations, one or more vertices of the triangular template 705 can be located at various alignment patterns that can be present in the distortion-free QR-code image 700.

In some applications in accordance with the disclosure, a dual-node distance authentication template such as the one described above with respect to FIG. 6 can be used as a result of prior knowledge that the spatial parameters as well as the pixel parameters of the distortion-free QR-code image 700 are identical in a vertical direction as well as in a horizontal direction.

FIG. 8 schematically depicts an exemplary computing element 800 that can be used to implement an embodiment of the disclosure. The computing element 800 can include one or more processors, such as the processor 805 that is configured to communicatively cooperate with a memory 830. The processor 805 can be implemented and operated using appropriate hardware, software, firmware, or combinations thereof. Software or firmware implementations can include computer-executable or machine-executable instructions written in any suitable programming language to perform the various functions described in this disclosure.

The memory 830 can be used to store program instructions that are loadable and executable by the processor 805 as well as to store data generated during the execution of these programs. Depending on the configuration and type of the device 100, the memory 830 can be volatile (such as random access memory (RAM)) and/or non-volatile (such as read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, etc.). In some embodiments, the memory devices can also include additional removable storage 835 and/or non-removable storage 840 including, but not limited to, magnetic storage, optical disks, and/or tape storage. The disk drives and their associated computer-readable media can provide non-volatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data. In some implementations, the memory 830 can include multiple types of memory, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), or ROM.

The memory 830, the removable storage, and the non-removable storage are all examples of non-transient computer-readable storage media. Such non-transient computer-readable storage media can be implemented in a wide variety of ways that are directed at storage of items such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, and/or program modules. Additional types of non-transient computer storage media that can be present include, but are not limited to, programmable random access memory (PRAM), SRAM, DRAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile discs (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tapes, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the processor 805. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of non-transient computer-readable storage media.

Turning to the contents of the memory 830, the memory 830 can include, but is not limited to, an operating system (OS) 831 and one or more application programs or services for implementing the features and aspects disclosed herein. Such application programs or services can include an image acquisition program 832, an image processing program 833, and data storage 834. The image acquisition program 832 can be used to execute some or all of the functions disclosed herein with respect to the image acquisition system 105. The image processing program 833 can be used to execute some or all of the functions disclosed herein with respect to the image processing system 110. The data storage 834 can be used to store image data as well as other data such as one or more distance authentication templates.

The computing element 800 can also include elements such as communications connections 810 and a graphical user interface (GUI) input/output 815. The communications connections 810 can be used to execute some or all of the functions disclosed herein with respect to the communications interface 115. The GUI input/output 815 can be used to execute some or all of the functions disclosed herein with respect to the man-machine interface 120.

To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patent application publications, and patent applications:

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In the specification and/or figures, exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. The present disclosure is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. For example, it must be understood that the systems and methods disclosed herein can be used in many cases to not only detect non-linear distortions but linear distortions as well. It must also be understood that in some implementations, a distance authentication template having a shape other than a triangle can be used. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. 

1. A method comprising: providing at least one of a first object or an image of the first object; using the at least one of the first object or the image of the first object to define a triangular spatial template having vertices corresponding to a first feature located at a first spatial coordinate, a second feature located at a second spatial coordinate, and a third feature located at a third spatial coordinate; when provided only the first object, generating the image of the first object; identifying in the image of the first object, a first pixel coordinate corresponding to the first spatial coordinate, a second pixel coordinate corresponding to the second spatial coordinate, and a third pixel coordinate corresponding to the third spatial coordinate; defining a triangular pixel template having vertices corresponding to the first pixel coordinate, the second pixel coordinate, and the third pixel coordinate; generating a distance authentication template by mapping the triangular pixel template to the triangular spatial template; providing at least one of a second object or an image of the second object; and using the distance authentication template to identify one or more additional features in the at least one of the second object or the image of the second object, the at least one of the second object or the image of the second object comprising the first feature, the second feature, and the third feature.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein: each of the first object and the second object is one of a currency note or a barcode; the first feature is a first corner of the one of the currency note or the barcode; the second feature is a second corner of the one of the currency note or the barcode; and the third feature is an image element located on the one of the currency note or the barcode.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein: each of the first object and the second object is a document; and at least one of the first feature, the second feature, or the third feature is a distinctive feature comprising at least a portion of one of an alphabet, a numeral, or an alphanumeric character.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the document is at least one of a monetary instrument, a citizenship document, a legal document, or a form of identification.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein: each of the first object and the second object is a quick response (QR) code; the first feature is a first finder pattern in the QR code; the second feature is a second finder pattern in the QR code; and the third feature is one of a third finder pattern in the QR code or an alignment pattern in the QR code.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of a first pixel separation distance between the first finder pattern and the second finder pattern, a second pixel separation distance between the second finder pattern and the one of the third finder pattern or the alignment pattern, or a third pixel separation distance between the first finder pattern and the one of the third finder pattern or the alignment pattern, is defined by using QR module sizes.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein using the distance authentication template to identify one or more additional features in the at least one of the second object or the image of the second object comprises: identifying in the image of the second object, a fourth pixel coordinate corresponding to the first feature, and a fifth pixel coordinate corresponding to the second feature; determining a pixel separation distance between the first feature and the second feature in the image of the second object; using the distance authentication template to determine an offset to be applied to the pixel separation distance; and using the offset when identifying the one or more additional features in the image of the second object.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first object and the second object is one of a 3-dimensional (3D) object or a 2-dimentional (2D) object.
 9. A method comprising: using a set of spatial coordinates to define the locations of two or more features in a distortion-free image; using a set of pixel coordinates to define the locations of the two or more features in the distortion-free image; using the set of spatial coordinates and the set of pixel coordinates to generate a distance authentication template; and using the distance authentication template to detect at least one distortion in a subject image having the two or more features.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the distortion-free image and the subject image is one of a currency note or a barcode, the method further comprising identifying the two or more features in the subject image.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the two or more features in the currency note corresponds to two or more distinctive logos, and the two or more distinctive features in the barcode corresponds to two or more finder patterns.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of spatial coordinates is specified in accordance with at least one of a three-coordinate (x, y, z) system or a two-coordinate (x, y) system.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one distortion in the subject image is at least one non-linear distortion, the method further comprising: at least one of: remedying the at least one distortion, or compensating for the at least one distortion when identifying the two or more features in the subject image.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one non-linear distortion is indicative of one or more of a pitch-related distortion, a roll-related distortion, or a yaw-related distortion in the subject image.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein using the set of spatial coordinates and the set of pixel coordinates to generate the distance authentication template comprises: generating a piecewise linear grid to provide an approximate representation of a non-linear grid; and using the piecewise linear grid to determine at least one of an absolute position or a relative position of the two or more features in the distortion-free image.
 16. An apparatus comprising: an image acquisition system configured to generate a subject image; and an image processing system configured to use a distance authentication template to execute a detection procedure that detects at least one non-linear distortion in the subject image, the distance authentication template comprising a mapping of a set of spatial coordinates of at least three features in a distortion-free image to a set of pixel coordinates of the at least three features in the distortion-free image.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the image acquisition system is at least one of a camera, a printer, or a scanner, and wherein the image processing system comprises one or more computing elements.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more computing elements include at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer-executable program comprising instructions for executing the detection procedure.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein executing the detection procedure comprises: generating a piecewise linear grid to provide an approximate representation of a non-linear grid; and using the piecewise linear grid to detect the at least one non-linear distortion in the subject image.
 20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least three features comprises a first distinctive feature, a second distinctive feature, and a third distinctive feature, and wherein executing the detection procedure comprises: identifying in the distortion-free image, the first distinctive feature located at a first spatial coordinate, the second distinctive feature located at a second spatial coordinate, and the third distinctive feature located at a third spatial coordinate; defining a triangular spatial template having vertices corresponding to the first spatial coordinate, the second spatial coordinate, and the third spatial coordinate; identifying in the distortion-free image, a first pixel coordinate corresponding to the first distinctive feature, a second pixel coordinate corresponding to the second distinctive feature, and a third pixel coordinate corresponding to the third distinctive feature; defining a triangular pixel template having vertices corresponding to the first pixel coordinate, the second pixel coordinate, and the third pixel coordinate; generating the distance authentication template by mapping the triangular pixel template to the triangular spatial template; and using the distance authentication template to identify one or more additional features in the image acquired by the image acquisition system, the image acquired by the image acquisition system comprising the first distinctive feature, the second distinctive feature, and the third distinctive feature. 